A
quiet hour spent alone with God at the beginning of the day,
is the best beginning for the toils and cares of the day. A
brief season of prayer, looking to God for wisdom and grace and
strength, and seeking the assistance of the Holy Spirit — helps
us to carry our religion into all of the events of the day. It
brings joy and peace within the heart.

And as we place all our
concerns in the care and keeping of the Lord, faithfully
striving to do His will — we have a joyful trust that however
dark or discouraging events may appear — our Father's hand is
guiding everything, and will give the wisest direction to all
our toils.

"In the morning, O
Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning
I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation."Psalm 5:3

"Let the morning bring me word of Your
unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.
Show
me the way I should go, for to
You I lift up my soul."Psalm 143:8

I am bound to speak well of my Physician — He treats me
with great tenderness, and bids me in due time to expect a
perfect cure. I know too much of Him (though I know but little)
to doubt either His skill or His promise.

It is true, I have suffered sad relapses
since I have
been under His care. Yet I confess that the fault has not been
His — but my own!
I am a perverse and unruly patient!
I have too often neglected His prescriptions, and broken the
regimen He appoints me to observe. This perverseness,
joined to the exceedingobstinacy of my disorders,
would have caused me to be turned out as an incurable
long ago — had I been under any other hand but His!
Indeed — there is none like Him! When I have brought myself
very low — He has still helped me. Blessed be His name — I
am yet kept alive only by means of His perfect care.

Though His medicines are all
beneficial — they are not
all pleasant. Now and then He gives me a pleasant cordial;
but I have many severe disorders, in which there is a needs-be
for my frequently taking His bitter and unpalatable medicines!

We sometimes see published in the newspapers, acknowledgments
of cures received. Methinks, if I were to publish my own
case, that it would run something like this:"I, John Newton, have long labored under a multitude of grievous
disorders: a fever of ungoverned passions, a cancer of pride, a frenzy of wild imaginations,
a severe lethargy, and a deadly stroke!

In this deplorable situation, I suffered many things from many
physicians, spent every penny I had — yet only grew worse and
worse!

In this condition, Jesus, the Physician of souls, found me when
I sought Him not. He undertook my recovery freely,
without money and without price — these are His terms with
all His patients! My fever is now abated, my senses
are restored, my faculties are enlivened! In a
word, I am a new man! And from His ability, His promise,
and the experience of what He has already done — I have the
fullest assurance that He will infallibly and perfectly heal me
— and that I shall live forever as a monument of His power
and grace!"

Let empires go to wreck — it
is Christ who breaks them with a rod of iron and shivers them
like potters' vessels.

Let conflagrations burn down
cities, let diseases devastate nations,let war follow war, let pestilence follow to famine —
yet still Jesus rules all things well, and we know that all
things work together for good to those who love God, who are
called according to His purpose!

We see in these verses, how
well our Lord foreknew the weakness and infirmity of His
disciples. He tells them plainly what they were going to do: "All
of you shall desert Me." He tells Peter in particular of the astounding sin which he was
about to commit, "This night, before the rooster crows twice —
you shall deny Me three times."

Yet our Lord's
fore-knowledge did not prevent His choosing these
twelve disciples to be His apostles. He allowed them to be His
intimate friends and companions, knowing perfectly well what
they would one day do. With a clear foresight of the melancholy
weakness and lack of faith which they would exhibit at the end
of His ministry — He granted them the mighty privilege of being
continually with Him, and hearing His voice. This is a
remarkable fact, and deserves to be had in continual
remembrance.

Let us take comfort in the thought that
the Lord Jesus does not cast off His believing people
because of failures and imperfections. He knows what
they are. He takes them, as the husband takes the wife — with
all their blemishes and defects; and once joined to Him by
faith, He will never leave them. He is a merciful and
compassionate High-priest. It is His glory to pass over the
transgressions of His people, and to cover their many sins.

He knew what they were before conversion
— wicked, guilty, and defiled; yet He loved them.

He knows what they will be after
conversion — weak, erring, and frail; yet He loves them.

He has undertaken to save them, notwithstanding
all their shortcomings — and what He has undertaken, He will
perform.

Let us learn to pass a charitable judgment on
the conduct of professing believers. Let us not set them down in
a low place, and say they have no grace — because we see much
weakness and corruption in them. Let us remember that our Master
in Heaven bears with their infirmities — and let us try to bear
with them too.

The Church is little better than
a great hospital. We ourselves
are all, more or less, weak and infirm — and all daily need the
skillful treatment of the heavenly Physician. There will be no
complete cures until the resurrection day!

~ ~ ~ ~

The best
evidence of Christianity!

(Frederick Marsh)

Jesus is the chief among ten thousand — the
altogether lovely One!

Christ is the Chiefest — or better than the
best.

His love is unknowable! Ephesians 3:19

His riches are unsearchable! Ephesians 3:18

His joy is unspeakable! 1 Peter 1:8

His ways are untrackable! Romans 11:33

His grace is inexhaustible! 2 Corinthians 9:8

His peace is unfathomable! Philippians 4:7

And He Himself is unsurpassable! Exodus 15:11

His character was beautiful with
holiness in every detail. Hebrews 7:26

His love was pure and faithful in all
its affection. John 13:1

His service was true and beneficent in all its
workings. Acts 10:38

His words were tender and true in all their utterances.
John 7:45

His life was consistent in every department. Mark 7:37

His aim was single and concentrated in glorifying God.
John 17:4

His mission was to benefit all who would trust Him, in
dying a death which they deserved. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Christ is Christianity — and
the best
evidence of Christianity is Christ!

"Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my
Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

To rest in God, is . . . to be satisfied with Him as our portion, to take Him for our supreme good, and to feel that we have enough and abound while possessing
Him — though everything else is taken away.

"Give me," says the believer, "the enjoyment of my God — and I
desire no more. Allow me to feast on heavenly truth — and I
shall never complain that I am poor. Let worldlings divide the
globe among themselves — let emmets contend for this little heap
of dust; I have God — and I ask no more. Come wars and
pestilence, come poverty and death — you cannot rob me of my
portion."

Must it not be substantialrest . . . to have the infinite God for a portion, to have all the restless desires of the mind composed, to feel no anxious apprehension for the future, to know that if everything which time or death can
destroy, were removed — the whole of one's portion would remain;
to feel that nothing can injure, nothing impoverish,
nothing perplex or disturb?

Ah, give me this portion — instead of thrones and
kingdoms!

"Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire
besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion forever!" Psalm
73:25-26

The doctrine of the death of Christ for our
sins, should inspire us with greater love for the Lord Jesus.

Can you look
at His dear wounds — and not be wounded with love for Him? Are not His wounds as
mouths which plead with you to
yield Him all your heart?

Can you gaze
upon His face bedewed with bloody sweat — and then go away and
be ensnared with the world's painted beauties?

Oh, for the vision of the Crucified!

When shall we see
the face that was so marred for us?

When shall we behold
the hands and feet which bear the nail-marks still — and look
into the wounded side bejeweled with the spear-wound?

Oh, when shall we leave all our sins and griefs
— forever to behold Him?

Our hope, our solace, our glory, our victory —
are all found in the blood of the Lamb, to whom be glory for
ever and ever! Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~

You keep
track of all my sorrows!

(The Preacher's Book)

"You keep track of all my sorrows!You have collected
all my tears in Your bottle.You have recorded each one in
Your book!"Psalm 56:8

Not a single
sigh for past sins, escapes His ears; not a groan of the heart, but is heard by Him;
not a tear falls to the ground, but He puts it into His
bottle!

Not a breathing of the soul after His holiness; not a loathing of our own unholiness;
not an act of self-abasement, or humbling ourselves for sin; not a yearning of the soul for a purity which it has not;
not a single act of mercy; not one act of self-denial;every fragment of our poor sorrow and service —
God gathers and stores up! Nothing is forgotten or lost!

"You keep track of all my sorrows! You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book!" Psalm 56:8

~ ~ ~ ~

Dear
wife, farewell!

(An excerpt from a letter by Christopher Love,
to his wife, on the morning of his execution)

My most gracious beloved,I am now going from a prison to a palace! I have finished
my work. I am now to receive my wages. I am going to Heaven!
Rejoice in my joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength. O, let it
be yours also!

Dear wife, farewell!
I will call you wife no more! I shall see your face no more! Yet
I am not much troubled — for now I am going to meet the
Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom I shall be eternally
married!

Your dying, yet most affectionate friend until death,Christopher LoveAugust 22, 1651, the day of my glorification!

He enjoys no sensible communion with Heaven. It
is the gloomiest period in His whole life.

But at length His agony is so piercing that He
is constrained to utter the most touching words of grief, "My
God, my God — why have You forsaken Me?"

His Father — His own
Father, in whose bosom He had lain from eternity!
His Father, by whom He was always beloved — has withdrawn the
light of His countenance from Him! And from His cross arises a
most piercing and agonizing cry, "My God, my God — why have
You forsaken Me?"

Oh, how mysterious, how solemn, how affecting
is this cry! It is the most doleful that ever came from the lips
of Christ during His sorrowful sojourn from the manger to the
cross.

It was not the nails which pierced His hands
and feet, nor the agony of a crucifixion, which caused
this mournful cry. He was now offering Himself a sacrifice for
sins. As our Surety, He suffered all that divine justice
required to bring the sinner back to God and to glory.

Here is the great mystery of Godliness: the
Father bruises the Son, and puts Him to grief for our sakes!
All those cries, and tears, and groans of Him whom the Father
appointed to accomplish our salvation — were for us.

On His shoulders was laid the enormous load of
our guilt.

Oh, what can we render to our Divine Savior,
for His amazing and unparalleled love to us?

Queen Victoria stopped one day at a paper-mill near Windsor
Castle, and was shown through it by the foreman. He did not know
who she was, as she was alone and was plainly dressed. The queen
was intensely interested in every process of the paper-maker's
art. She was conducted at last to a place where a number of
rag-pickers were emptying out the dirty rags which they
had gathered from the gutters and alleys of the great city.
There was a large pile of these filthy, blackened rags, which
looked as if they never could be made clean. The queen asked the
foreman what he would do with these. To her amazement, he told
her that he would make them into the finest, whitest paper.

When the queen had gone, the foreman learned who she was. Some
days after, there was received at the palace — a package of the
purest, most delicate paper, having the queen's likeness
stamped upon it, with a note from the foreman of the mill,
telling her that this paper was made from the very rags she
had seen on her visit!

In the same way, the Holy Spirit takes human lives, ruined and
blackened by sin — makes them whiter than snow, and stamps upon
them the holy image of Jesus!

No life is hopeless in its ruin — which
the transforming
grace of God renews.

God can take the most sin-soiled soul
— and give to it radiant beauty!

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual
offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And
that is what some of you were! But you were washed, you
were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

~ ~ ~ ~

When
that monster of a man hung!

(James
Smith, "The Believer's Companion in Seasons of Affliction
and Trouble" 1842)

"O Lord, there is none like You!" 1
Chronicles 17:20

Truly, our God is without a parallel!

He could dash His enemies to Hell with one
word, and drive them to despair. But instead of this, He
constantly provides for them — and many of them are fed by Him
with the richest blessings of His providence. He . . . spreads their tables,
supplies their needs, and pours His favors upon them abundantly — though they . . .blaspheme His name, despise the mention of His grace, and
bid Him to depart from them, in disdain!

He preserves them from a variety of
dangers, which would otherwise hurry them out of time into
eternity.

He bears with them from day to day,
and does not allow their wickedness to arouse His ire, to their
immediate destruction. Who, besides Jehovah, would thus feed,
preserve, warn, and bear with such obstinate, careless,
provoking wretches? Surely none!

"What base rebellious wretches they; And God as strangely kind!"

When, in His own time, any of His enemies are
brought to discover their wickedness, feel their danger, desire
to escape their deserved doom, and apply to Him — He freely
pardons them, and forgets all their past unkindness!

When that monster of a
man hung by the side of Jesus on the cross,
mocking His dying agonies, reviling His dear name, and
endeavoring to add to His tremendous sorrows — Jesus was as silent
as one who heard not, as patient as one who felt
not, and as kind
as one who had been treated with all possible respect! For,
no sooner does the bold blasphemer cry, "Lord remember me!"
than Jesus answers, "Today you shall be with Me in paradise!"

And can you, O my Savior, freely and fully
pardon such a wretch as that? Can you take him in Your arms, to
paradise? Can you forget his scarlet crimes, the insults
he offered, and the daring wickedness manifested by
him but a few minutes before? "O Lord, there is none like
You!"

The vile thief enters Heaven, to . . . the
astonishment of angels, the confusion of devils,
the wonder of glorified saints, and the honor
of the dear, dear Redeemer!

Jesus not only fully pardons the
penitent — but He cordially accepts him! He receives him as one of the dear
objects of His love, and says to each and every one such, "I
have blotted out your sins as a cloud, and your iniquities as a
thick cloud!"

He kindly visits them, as though they had never
acted unkindly toward Him; and constantly blesses them with
spiritual, holy, and eternal blessings. He . . .clothes
them with the garments of His
righteousness, beautifies them with the graces of His Spirit,
comforts them with the promises of His love, acknowledges them at His throne of grace, defends
them against their cruel and malicious
foes, tenderly expostulates with them when they
wander from Him,mercifully warns them of their dangers
and foes, kindly exhorts them to cleave close to
Himself,wisely corrects them when they wickedly
stray, and will crown them with glory at the end of their
race!

And what returns does He frequently
get for His kindness and love? Alas! alas! Too often,
ingratitude, rebellion, hardness of heart, alienation of
affection, forgetfulness of His mercies, and following after
other lovers rather than Himself!

"He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus,
which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." 1
Corinthians 4:17

We should so live, that those who know us shall recognize the
unmistakable lineaments of Christ in us.

Retzsch, a German sculptor, made a wonderful statue of the
Redeemer. For eight years it was his dream by night, and his
thought by day. He set it before a child of five or six years
old. There were none of the usual emblematic marks designating
the Savior about the figure — no cross, no crown of thorns,
nothing by which to identify it. Yet when the child was asked
who it was — she replied that it was the Lord Jesus.

This was a wonderful triumph of art, this putting so much
divinity into the face of the model, that even a little child
recognized the artist's thought.

Just so, we should exhibit in our life and character such a
reproduction of the holiness and beauty of Christ, that everyone
who looks upon us and sees our life may instinctively recognize
the features of the Master, and say, "Behold
the image of the Lord Jesus!" There is no other
way of magnifying the Lord, which so witnesses to the world.

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of
Christ!" 1 Corinthians 11:1

"You do not belong to yourself — for God bought you with a high
price!" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

All that you are and have —
are His. You owe
Him your whole selves!

The Lord Jesus Christ, who created you and
redeemed
you from eternal damnation — is your Proprietor, Master, and
King.Whom else then should you serve?To whom else should you devote your lives?Whose interest should you rather seek?

"For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for
himself. For if we live — we live for the Lord; or if we
die — we die for the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die — we
are the Lord's." Romans 14:7-8

Our religion is exactly in proportion as we cease to live for
ourselves — and live for God alone. We have just as much
religion — as we have of self-denial. The only evidence of
attachment to Him on which we can rely — is that we make it our
design and care to promote His glory and the accomplishment of
His benevolent purposes, not now and then, but in the general
tenor of our lives.

To live for God, is to regard His will as the rule and
ground of our conduct, and His glory as our supreme
object. Not merely one day in a week — but in our general course
to act from a reference to His authority.

To live for God, is to choose our calling, to pursue our
business, to frame our habits, to regulate our actions from hour
to hour — from a regard to His will and honor.

To live for God, is to feel and act as those who are not at
liberty to live to themselves, but have their work daily
assigned them by a heavenly Master.

To live for God, is to live under a sense that we are not our
own — not our own masters, not our own proprietors, not at our
own disposal.

To live for God, is to live as though our time, talents,
influence, property, and all that we are and have —
are God's.

To live for God, is to hold everything in readiness to use for
Him, or resign all things to Him as He shall direct.

To live for God, is to to be submissive under afflictions, and
willing to be at His disposal in all our trials.

To live for God, is to to be ready to deny ourselves for Him in
every way which His Word or Providence may point out. To live for God, is to desire life chiefly that we may serve
Him.

To live for God, is to make Him the center in which all the
lines of our life shall meet.

To live for God, is to make it the business of our lives to
please Him and not ourselves.

The very core of all true religion, is not to live for ourselves
— but for God; not to consider ourselves our own — but the
property and the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ; not to feel
as though we are set up in the world to work for ourselves, to
spend the most of our time in pursuing what is termed our
innocent gratifications — but to hold our time, powers,
influence, and property as talents entrusted to us to be used
for Christ — keeping our eye on His Word to learn His will, and
aiming habitually to please and honor Him.

This, and nothing but this, is true
Christianity! Whatever our creed is — if this is not our
character
— then all our religion is vain!

"So we make it our goal to please Him — whether we are
at home in the body or away from it!" 2 Corinthians 5:9

~ ~ ~ ~

Look to the rock from whence you were hewn,
and to the pit from whence
you were dug!

"Look to the rock
from whence you were hewn, and to the pit from
whence you were dug!" Isaiah 51:1

It is profitable for the children of God often to . . . reflect on what they formerly were,
meditate on their once wretched and helpless condition, look to the rock whence they were hewn, and to the pit
whence they were dug.

Look back, then, Christians, to the time when you were . . . the enemies of God,
the despisers of His Son, the willing slaves of the father of lies,
and children of disobedience!

Look back to the time when . . . your
hearts were as hard as the nether millstone;
your understandings were darkened; you were
alienated from the life of God; your wills were stubborn, perverse and
rebellious; your affections were madly bent on the pleasures
of sin; every imagination of the thoughts of your heart were only
evil, and continually evil!

Look back with shame and self-abhorrence to the time when you .
. . lived without God in the world, drank in iniquity like water,
served various lusts and vanities, fulfilled the sinful desires of the flesh and mind,
cast God's holy law behind your backs, stifled the remonstrances of conscience, quenched the influences of the Spirit,
neglected the Holy Scriptures, and mocked God with pretended worship, while your hearts were
far from Him.

A rebel against God, a resister of the Spirit,
a slave of Satan, a child of wrath, an heir of Hell —
such, O Christian, was once your character! Nothing was then before you, but a fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation!

Admire the God of free grace — who save you
from such a dreadful plight!

"You are to name Him
JESUS — because He will save His
people from their sins!" Matthew 1:21

This verse teaches that Jesus came into the world having . . . a definite
people in His mind, a definite work in His hand, and a definite principle in His heart.

He had a definite PEOPLE in His mind! They are simply called "His people." He had . . . a special
interest in them, a special right to them, and a special
concern for them.

They were given to Him as a pledge of His Father's love — to be
His associates, joy and delight — His crown and glory. They were
. . . sunk in sin and wretchedness, under the condemnation of the law,
the captives of the prince of darkness!

They were His sheep — but
lost sheep!

They were His jewels — but jewels in a heap of rubbish!

They were His bride — but in a state of adultery!

He had . . . the eye of His omniscience watching them, the love of His heart pursuing them, and the arm of His omnipotence protecting them!

His eye was upon them . . . when in Heaven in His Father's bosom,
and when enclosed in Mary's womb!His eye ever was — and ever will be
on them —
from the beginning to the end of time — to save and to bring
them safely to glory!

He had a definite WORK in His hand! It was a work for His Father — and a work for His people.
He had . . . the law to fulfill,justice
to satisfy,sin to remove,Heaven to open,
Satan to conquer,death to destroy!

This work He proceeded to perform — until in triumph He
exclaimed, "It is finished!"

He had a definite PRINCIPLE in His heart.And what was that powerful principle, which brought Him
. . . from Heaven — to earth, from glory — into contempt, from unutterable bliss — into inconceivable sorrow?

It was LOVE! Love, the ruling attribute of His nature, the prominent feature of His character, the rule of His conduct towards His people!It was love which . . . eternally existed in His bosom, fanned His heart, and directed His ways!

It was this sacred principle which led Jesus into our
world — and conducted Him through all the stages of His
redemptive work!

His name then, is 'Jesus' — because He loves and saves all of
His people!

Never think that it was merely human misery, or the
doleful cries of suffering mortals — which brought Jesus to our
world; for if these would move Him — then He would assuredly
empty Hell itself!It was not human misery — but divine love!

It was not man's cries — but His own glory, which brought
Jehovah Jesus into suffering circumstances and a miserable
condition!

Passing through a country graveyard the
other day, an inscription on a head-stone struck my eye. The
stone was by the side of the path, where everyone could see it,
and it was placed there in memory of a young man who died at the
age of seventeen. It was —

"Reader, one moment, Stop, and think: That
I am in eternity! And you are on the brink!"

In eternity! A young man, only seventeen years
of age, in eternity!

In a fixed, a changeless, an eternal state!

In Heaven — or in Hell!

Saved with an everlasting salvation — or damned
forever!

If it should be the latter — what a fearful
supposition! And yet many have gone to Hell — before
they have been seventeen years of age!

"I am in
eternity — and you are on the brink!" Yes, though you may
be young, apparently healthy, full of life and vigor — you are
on the brink of eternity! A slight accident, or a few
days illness — and you are in eternity! What a solemn
thought!

What will eternity be to you?

Where will you be in eternity?

Are your sins pardoned? Are you reconciled to God by the death of His Son?
Are you sanctified by the Holy Spirit — and thus made fit for
Heaven?

If not, remember that in Hell, there is . . . no gospel, no means of grace, no way of escape from the wrath of God!Once there — and your doom is fixed forever!

Think, O think . . . Of the dreadful consequences of dying in your sins! Of going down to the grave in an unconverted state!
Of dying under the curse of God!

"Behold, now is the accepted time! Behold, now is the day of salvation!"

Editor's note:Reader! The above was written over 150 years ago.
All who then read this little piece — are now in
eternity! All who now read this little piece — are on the
brink!

"Reader, one moment, Stop, and think: That
I am in eternity! And you are on the brink!"

Were you made only
to be a machine for digging holes, laying bricks, or cutting out
pieces of wood? Were you created only to stand at a
counter and measure or weigh out goods? Do you think your God
made you for that and that only?

Is this the chief end of
man — to earn so many dollars a week, and try to make
ends meet?

Is that all immortal men
were made for?

As a man with a soul,
capable of thought and judgment — and not a mere animal like a
dog, nor a machine like a steam engine; can you stand up and
look at yourself, and say, "I believe I am perfectly fulfilling
my destiny"?

God has made man that he may
glorify him — and whatever else man accomplishes, if he attains
not to this end, his life is a disastrous failure!

Others are lovers of
pleasure. They are merry as the birds, their life is as the
flight of a butterfly, which lightly floats from flower to
flower, according to its own sweet will.

It cannot be that an
immortal spirit was made for
frivolities — spending all its time on the playthings
of the world.

So great a thing as an
immortal soul could not have been made by God — with no higher
object than to spend itself upon trifles as light as air.

Oh, pause a while, you
careless, godless one! There is something more than the fool's
laugh. All things are not a comedy. Death and Heaven and Hell
are serious — and should not life be?

The charms of music, the
merriment of the mirthful assembly, the beauties of art, and the
delights of banqueting — there must be something more for you
than these. Something more must be required of you than that you
should waste your precious time from morn to night upon nothing
but to please yourself!

~ ~
~ ~

An unerring chart by which to steer through the
dangerous sea of life!

God has placed His Word in
our hands for an intensely practical purpose — namely,
to direct our walk and to regulate our deportment. The primary
purpose for which God gave the Scriptures, is to make a practicaluse of them — ordering the details of our lives by its
rules and regulations.

"Your Word is a lamp unto my
feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105.
The metaphor used here is taken from a man walking along a
dangerous road on a dark night, in urgent need of a lantern to
show him where to walk safely and comfortably, to avoid injury
and destruction.

God, in His infinite
condescension and transcendent grace, has given us His Word for
this very purpose, so that we need not stumble along blindly,
ignorant of what pleases or displeases Him — but that we might
know His mind. That divine Word is not given to us simply for information, but . . . to regulate our conduct, to enlighten our minds, and to mold our hearts.

The Word supplies us with
an unerring chart by which to steer
through the dangerous sea of life. If we
sincerely and diligently follow, it will deliver us from
disastrous rocks and submerged reefs — and direct us safely to
the heavenly harbor. That Word has all the instructions we need
for every problem, and every trouble we may be called upon to
face. That Word has been given to us "that the man of God may be
complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17. How
thankful we should be, that God has favored us with such a Word!

This world is a dark place,
and it is only as we take heed to the Word, to the light God has
given us, that we shall be able to perceive and avoid "the broad
road which leads to destruction," and discern the narrow way
which alone "leads unto eternal life."

Our first duty, and our
first aim, must be to take up the Scriptures to ascertain what
is God's revealed will for us — what are the paths He forbids us
to walk, what are the ways pleasing in His sight.

The Scriptures are not given
us, primarily, for our intellectual gratification, nor for
emotional admiration, but for life's regulation. Nor are
the precepts and commands, the warnings and
encouragements contained therein, simply for our
information. They are to be reduced to practice — they
require unqualified obedience. He who treasures the
divine precepts in his heart, and diligently seeks to walk by
their rule, will escape those evils which destroy his fellows.

Thus the great business of
the Christian is to regulate his life by, and conform his
conduct to — the precepts of the written Word, and the example
left us by the Incarnate Word. As he does so, and in proportion
as he does so, he is emancipated from the darkness of his natural mind, freed from the follies of his corrupt heart, delivered from the mad course of this world, and escapes the snares of the devil.

"Blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 5:3

The Lord Jesus calls those
blessed, who are poor in spirit. He means the
humble, and lowly-minded, and self-abased. He means those who
are deeply convinced of their own sinfulness in God's sight.
These are those who are not "wise in their own eyes and holy in
their own sight." They are not "rich and increased with goods."
They do not imagine that they need nothing. They regard
themselves as "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked." Blessed are all such! Humility is
the very first letter in the alphabet
of Christianity! We must begin low, if we would
build high.

"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be
comforted."Matthew 5:4

The
Lord Jesus calls those blessed, who mourn. He
means those who sorrow for sin, and grieve daily over their
own short-comings. These are they who trouble themselves more
about sin than about anything on earth. The remembrance of it
is grievous to them. The burden of it is intolerable. Blessed
are all such! "The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite
spirit." One day they shall weep no more! "They shall be
comforted."

Let us learn how entirely contrary are the
principles of Christ — to the principles of the world. It is
vain to deny it. They are almost diametrically opposed! The very
characters which the Lord Jesus praises — the world despises.
The very pride, and thoughtlessness, and high tempers, and
worldliness, and selfishness, and formality, and unlovingness,
which abound everywhere — the Lord Jesus condemns!

Let us learn how unhappily different is the
teaching of Christ from the practice of many professing
Christians. Where shall we find men and women among those who go
to churches and chapels, who are striving to live up to the
pattern we have read of today? Alas! there is much reason to
fear, that many baptized people are utterly ignorant of what the
New Testament contains!

Above all let us learn how holy and
spiritual-minded all believers should be. They should never aim
at any standard lower than that of the Beatitudes. Christianity
is eminently a practical religion. Sound doctrine is its root
and foundation — but holy living should always be its fruit. And if we would know what holy living is, let us
often think who they are that Jesus calls "blessed."

As soon as the trouble
comes, quick, the first thing — tell it to your heavenly
Father! Remember, that the longer you take telling your
trouble to God — the more your peace will be impaired. The
longer the frost lasts — the more likely the ponds will be
frozen.

Oh! It is a happy way of
smoothing sorrow, when we can cast our burden upon the
Lord. Oh, you agitated Christians, do not dishonor your religion
by always wearing a 'frown of concern'. Come, cast your burden
upon the Lord.

I see you staggering
beneath a weight which He would not feel.What seems a crushing burden to you — would be nothing but a bit
of dust to Him!

"Cast all your cares upon
Him — because He cares about you!" 1 Peter 5:7

~ ~
~ ~

The sheep do not choose their own pasture!

(Francis Bourdillon, "Bedside Readings" 1864)

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters."
Psalm 23:2

"He makes me lie down in green pastures."
That is, He
supplies the needs of our souls. He . . . gives us the food of the Word of God,
strengthens us with His grace, and makes us to find our rest in Him.

"He leads me beside the still waters." That is, He . . . refreshes us when we are weary,
revives our hearts by His promises, cheers us by His presence,
gives us His Holy Spirit, and enables us to rejoice in His salvation.

Amidst all our trials and troubles — He comforts us and gives us
fresh hope.

Some may say, "Why should I have trouble at all? Why does the
good Shepherd send me anything besides comfort and pleasure? Why
am I poor or sad or
sick?"

The sheep do not choose their own
pasture — the shepherd chooses for them. In the
same way, the disciple does not choose his own lot in life — it
is appointed for him. His Shepherd knows best what is
good for him. The best is not always what is the most pleasant
at the moment — but what is most profitable in the end.

Our Shepherd sometimes leads us through what seem to us dry and
stony places — but they lead to the Heavenly pastures! And even
along the way, He feeds us and comforts us with all a shepherd's
care. Never is our Shepherd nearer to us, than when we are in
need or danger.

"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give
them eternal life, and they will never perish — ever! No one
will snatch them out of My hand!" John 10:27-28

"For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment
— is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory; while we do not look at the things which are seen — but
at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen
are temporary — but the things which are not seen are eternal!"
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Few people will call their present affliction
light — and
few are disposed to call it short. For while it lasts,
it seems hard to bear — and a time of suffering
generally appears long. Yet the apostle Paul writes thus
about his affliction: "Our light affliction, which is
but for a moment."

Paul's afflictions were not, in themselves,
light — few
men have gone through more hardships and trials than he did. Nor
were they, in themselves, short — for wherever he went he found them; they
continued, more or less, to the end of his life.

It was only when he
compared his present affliction
with the glory that was so soon to follow — that it seemed to
him light and short. Then he could say, "Our light affliction,
which is but for a moment."

We must always try to look at our afflictions in this way. If we
look at them alone — they will be enough to overwhelm us! But if
we think also, and even more, of the eternal rest and happiness
and glory which lie ahead of us — then our view of
our present afflictions will be greatly changed.

"True," we shall feel, "true, my sorrows are many; my sickness
is sore; my pain is great; long have I lain upon a bed of
suffering. Yet before me lies a home of perfect rest, where pain
and sickness and sorrow cannot come. My Savior has promised it to me and has gone before to
prepare it
for me. In a little while, I shall be there!"

With thoughts such as these,
the
suffering Christian should comfort himself — and
thus weigh present affliction against future glory. For what are all things here below, but
short? Joys and sorrows, health and sickness, affliction and
prosperity — all the things that pain and that please, "the things which are seen"
— all these things are but for a time.

Whereas "the things which are not seen are eternal." What we
hope
for, what Christ has purchased for us and gone before
to prepare for us — that is forever! Our pains and
sorrows will soon end — but our pleasures will never end! Our
affliction is but for a little while — but our comforts, our
Savior's presence, our Heavenly home, will be ours always!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting
away — yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day!" 2
Corinthians 4:16

Sinners do not like to retain God in their knowledge — because
He is omniscient and omnipresent. In consequence of His
possessing these attributes, He is a constant witness of their
motives and conduct, and is perfectly acquainted with their
hearts. This must render the thoughts of His holiness still more disagreeable to a sinner — for what
can be more unpleasant to him, than the constant presence and
inspection of a holy being . . . whom he cannot deceive, from whose keen, searching gaze he cannot for a moment
hide, to whom darkness and light are alike open, and who views his conduct with the utmost displeasure and
abhorrence?

Even the presence of our fellow creatures is disagreeable, when
we wish to indulge any sinful propensity which they will
disapprove. How exceedingly irksome, then, must the constant
presence of a holy, heart-searching God be to a sinner! No
wonder, then, that sinners banish a knowledge of Him from their
minds, as the easiest method of freeing themselves from the
restraint imposed by His presence.

"They say to God:
Leave us alone! We do not desire
to know Your ways!"Job 21:14

"As the deer pants for streams
of water — so my soul pants for you, O God! My soul thirsts
for God, for the living God! When can I go and meet with God?"
Psalm 42:1-2

I have just been reading of
the last days of a true believer, and his whole dying
experience was comprehended in one sentence, "I am sighing
for Jesus!" He did not sigh for life, nor for ease
— but he was sighing for Jesus.

I cannot help observing, how
much of my experience now, is expressed in those words, "I am
sighing for Jesus."
Yes, yes, I can do without riches, or fame,
or the honor
which man confers. I am pretty well content with
what providence
sends me — and yet I often sigh, and sigh deeply
too. Some would think me unhappy — but I am not. Some may
conclude I am discontented with my situation in life — but I am
not. Yet I sigh — I often sigh.

I have read of a bird,
which if caught and caged — never ceases to sigh, until it
obtains its liberty, or dies.
I am somewhat like that bird,
and I expect I shall continue to sigh — until I obtain my
desire.

I have had a glimpse of
Jesus — and I sigh for a full view of Him.

I have tasted the
sweetness of communion with Him — and I sigh for uninterrupted
fellowship.

I have felt a little of the
cleansing influence of His precious blood, and Holy Spirit — and
I sigh for a thorough cleansing, that I may be perfectly and
forever holy.

I sigh for Jesus — that I may . . . know
Him more perfectly,love Him more entirely, andenjoy Him uninterruptedly!

I sigh to be exactly
like Jesus!

I sigh to be forever
with Jesus!

I believe that if I were just like Him,
and always with Him — that I would sigh no more; and I
think that nothing else will put a complete stop to my sighing.

Yes, the day is coming, and it may be very near
— when the days of my mourning will be ended, and when I shall
heave the last sigh, and begin the never-ending song!
My sorrows will soon end, and my
sighing will forever cease! I shall soon be with Jesus,
like
Jesus, and everlastingly employed in praising Jesus!
And then, I shall sigh no more!

"The ransomed of the Lord will return. They
will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their
heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and
sighing will flee away!" Isaiah 51:11

~ ~
~ ~

The sufferings of this present time!(James Smith, "No
Comparison!" 1862)

"For I reckon that the
sufferings
of this present time — are not worthy to be compared
with the glorywhich shall be revealed in us!" Romans 8:18

Paul compares present sufferings — with future glory.

Believers are exposed to all kinds of suffering, and instead of
obtaining an exemption from afflictions — they are assured that it is
through much tribulation that they must enter into the kingdom of God.

Some endure inward suffering, with which no one
is fully acquainted but God Himself. They have such darkness,
gloom, distress, agitation, trouble, and sorrow — as would not
be easy to describe.

Some suffer much in body, from the stressed and
disordered state of the nervous system, from chronic diseases,
or deformities in the physical frame. They seldom move without
suffering, and for years together have but little freedom from
weakness and pain. They live a life of suffering, a kind
of dying life — and think much of Heaven as of a place
where there is no more pain.

Some suffer much financially. Scarcely anything
seems to prosper with them — losses, crosses, and opposition
meet them at every turn. And though they live honestly, and
conduct their business honorably — they are thwarted, hindered,
and filled with perplexity. No one can tell what they suffer
from financial trials and difficulties.

Others suffer from reproach, misrepresentation,
strife, and persecution in the world, or in the Church — or
both! No one seems to understand them, or is prepared to
sympathize with them; they are like "a sparrow alone upon the
house-top." False friends and open enemies unite to trouble and
distress them, so that they often sigh, and say, "O that I had
wings like a dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest!"

Others in the
domesticcircle, or from some of
the relationships of life — are called to suffer long
and seriously.

But whether from trouble of mind, sickness of body, trials in
business, family difficulties, or persecution for Christ's sake
— all suffer, and most believers suffer much!

But compare their
present sufferings — with
their future glory:Glory which will exclude all pain and suffering, all sin and
sorrow! Glory beyond the reach of all foes and the cause of all trouble!
Glory which includes happiness — perfect, perpetual,
never-ending happiness! Glory which includes honor — the highest, holiest, and most
satisfying honor!
Glory, or splendor — which will fill the soul, clothe the body,
and dignify the entire person forever!

Filled with light, peace, and joy; clothed with beauty,
brightness, and magnificence — they will appear with Christ in
glory — filling them with wonder and unutterable delight!

This glory will be possessed by us — as part of our marriage
portion and inalienable inheritance. But we can form no adequate
idea of that glory, for "No
eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind
has imagined — what God has prepared for those who love
Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9

"The eternal God is your
refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms!"
Deuteronomy 33:27

The picture suggested, is
that of a little child, lying in the strong arms of a father who
is able to withstand all storms and dangers.

At the two extremes of life,
childhood and old age — this promise comes with
special assurance.

"He shall gather the lambs
in His arms, and carry them in His bosom" (Isaiah 40:11), is
a word for the children.

"Even to your old age
and gray hairs I am He; I am He who will sustain you. I
have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain
you and I will rescue you!" (Isaiah 46:4), brings
its blessed comfort to the aged.

The thought of God's
embracing arms
is very suggestive. What does an arm represent?
What is the thought suggested by the arm of God enfolded around
His child?

One suggestion, is protection.
As a father puts his arm about his child when it is in danger —
so God protects His children. Life is full of peril.
There are temptations on every hand! Enemies lurk
in every shadow — enemies strong and swift! Yet we are assured
that nothing can separate us from the love of God. "Underneath
are the everlasting arms!"

Another thought, is affection.
The father's arm drawn around a child — is a token of love.
The child is held in the father's bosom, near his heart. The
shepherd carries the lambs
in his bosom. John lay on Jesus' bosom. The mother holds the
child in her bosom, because she loves it. This picture of God
embracing His children in His arms — tells of His love for them
— His love is tender, close, intimate.

Another thought suggested by
an arm, is
strength. The arm is a symbol of strength. His arm is
omnipotence. "In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength"
(Isaiah 26:4). His is
an arm that can never be broken!
Out of this clasp — we can never be taken. "I give them eternal
life, and they will never perish — ever! No one will snatch them
out of My hand!" (John 10:28)

Another suggestion is endurance.
The arms of God are "everlasting." Human arms grow weary
even in love's embrace; they cannot forever press the child to
the bosom. Soon they lie folded in death.

A husband stood by the coffin
of his beloved wife after only one short year of wedded
happiness. The clasp of that love was very sweet — but
how brief a time it lasted, and how
desolate was the life that had lost the precious
companionship!

A little baby two weeks old
— was left
motherless. The mother clasped the child to her bosom and
drew her feeble arms about it in one loving embrace; the little
one will never more have a mother's arm around it.

So pathetic is human
life with — its broken affections, its little moments of love,
its embraces that are torn away in one hour. But these arms of God
— are everlasting arms! They shall never unclasp!

There is another important
suggestion in the word "underneath." Not only do the arms
of God embrace His child — but they are underneath — always
underneath! That means that we can never sink —
for these arms will ever be beneath us!

Sometimes we say the waters
of trouble are very deep — like great floods they roll
over us. But still and forever, underneath the deepest
floods — are these everlasting arms! We cannot sink below them — or out of their clasp!

And when death comes,
and every earthly thing is gone from beneath us, and we sink
away into what seems darkness — out of all human love, out of
warmth and gladness and life — into the gloom and strange
mystery of death — still it will only be — into the
everlasting arms!

This view of God's divine
care is full of inspiration and comfort. We are not saving
ourselves. A strong One, the mighty God — holds us in His
omnipotent clasp! We are not tossed like a leaf on
life's wild sea — driven at the mercy of wind and wave. We
are in divine keeping. Our security does not depend
upon our own feeble, wavering faith — but upon the omnipotence,
the love, and the faithfulness of the unchanging, the eternal
God!

No power in the universe can
snatch us out of His hands! Neither death nor life, nor things
present, nor things to come — can separate us from Hiseverlasting
arms!

"Be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men but as wise — making the most of your time!"
Ephesians 5:15-16

If you saw a man standing by
the shore, and flinging gold coins and
diamonds into the sea — you would say that he was
insane. Yet God sees many people continually doing something
very like this. Not gold and precious stones, do they this throw
away — but minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years of time —
possessions which are of greater worth than any gems of earth!

If we knew the intrinsic
value of time — we would not allow a moment of it ever to
be wasted!

It is said that in the mints,
where gold is coined, that the sweepings of the floors are
gathered and passed through the fire, and that in the course of
a year large amounts of gold are saved from the mere dust of the
precious gold which flies from it as it passes through the
various processes of minting.

In the same way, what vast
values would be saved if there were some way of gathering up all
the little fragments of the days and hours — the golden dust
of time, which people let drop amid the wastes!

Then think how much most of
us would really add to the length of our life, if we had learned
to use every hour and moment. We talk seriously of the
brevity of life. We are often heard complaining about the
shortness of the days, wishing they had many more hours
in them. Probably the majority of people waste one-half of their
time, and have made only one-half as much of their life as they
might have done — if they had only used their time with wise
economy, and had not squandered any of it.

There are many ways of wasting
time. Many people waste a great deal of time in little fragments
— five minutes here, ten minutes there, half an hour today, and
an hour tomorrow. Those who understand the true value of time,
and have learned the secret of using it, always have something
worth while to fill up all the little interstices. They have a good
book to read when they find a few minutes to spare; or on
any occasion of delay.

Time is also well spent, in
which we get a beautiful thought, an important fact or a
suggestion of a lesson into our mind. Or the fragments of
time may be filled with little acts of helpfulness or kindness.
It is one of the finest secrets of life, to know how to
redeem the minutes from waste, and to make them bearers
of blessing, of cheer, of encouragement, of good, to others.
Then the whole world is sweeter, because of every kindness done
or good word spoken.

Much time is wasted in useless
activities — in doing things which are not worth while.
There are things which are not regarded as sins — but which are
of no value to anyone, and bring no benefit to him who spends
his time in doing them.

There is a great deal of reading
that is not worth while. You go through book after book, and
from all the pages you do not get one enriching thought, one
helpful inspiration, or one impulse toward a holier life. All
you have at the end of a year of such reading, is only a
confused memory of exciting sensations, unwholesome incidents,
and unreal experiences. You would better have spent the time in
sleep or in sheer idleness, than in going through such worthless
books!

There is altogether too much
of such reading done. There are good novels, great works of
fiction, which teach splendid lessons, which show magnificent
character and noble conduct, which inspire their readers to
truer, holier living. But there are novels which give unworthy
and unwholesome thoughts of life, which leave in the mind of
readers a residuum of unholy thoughts, false ideals, the trail
of the serpent. Then there are novels which, if they are
not positively evil in their spirit and tendency — are inane,
senseless, with nothing in them to make any one truer, holier,
or sweeter-spirited.

A great deal of the popular
reading of our day is but a waste of time, if not worse! If
instead of it people would read only that which is worth while —
how much richer they would be at the end of their life!

No problem that comes before
us is more important than this — what to do with time.
In youth, we learn how to live. The habits we form then, will go
with us to the end of our days. If we learn then the value of moments,
and form the habit of giving every minute something worthy to do
— we shall have found a secret of successful living.

"Teach us to number our days
aright —
that we may gain a heart of wisdom!"Psalm 90:12

External morality is not heart-purity. A person may be
clothed with great moral virtues, such as justice, charity,
prudence, and temperance — and yet go to Hell.

We must not rest in mere outward morality.
A swine may be washed — yet be a swine still.Morality
does but wash a man — grace changes him.
Morality may shine in the eyes of the world — but it differs as
much from purity, as a pebble differs from a diamond!

Morality is but
strewing flowers on a
dead corpse!

A man who is but highly moral — is but
a tame devil!

How many have made 'morality' their savior!
Morality will damn — as well as vice! A boat may be sunk with gold — as well as with
dung!

The moral person, though he will not commit gross
sins
— yet he is not sensible of heart sins. He is not
troubled for unbelief, hardness of heart, vanity of thoughts. He
abhors gross-sins — not gospel-sins.

The snake has a fine appearance — but has a deadly
sting! Just so, the moral man is fair to look on — but has a
secret antipathy against the holy ways of God.

Morality is not to be rested in. The
heart must be
pure. God would have Aaron wash the inner parts of the
sacrifice. Leviticus 9:14 Morality does but wash the outside — the inside must be washed.

"You
are absolutely beautiful, my Beloved; there is no flaw
in You!" Song of Songs 4:7

Plato expressed a
desire that the moral law might become a living personage — that
men seeing it thus incarnate, might be charmed by its beauty.

Plato's
wish was fulfilled in Jesus Christ! The holiness
and the beauty of the divine law were revealed in Him. The Beatitudes
contain an outline of the ideal life — but the Beatitudes
are only a transcript of the life of Christ Himself! What
He taught about love — was but His own love stated in a course
of living lessons for His friends to learn. When He said
that we should be patient, gentle, thoughtful,
forgiving, and kind — He was only saying, "Follow Me!"

If we could gather from the
most godly people who ever have lived, the little fragments
of lovely character which have blossomed out in each, and
bring all these fragments into one personality — we would have
the beauty of Jesus Christ!

In one person you find
gentleness, in another meekness, in another purity of heart, in
another humility, in another kindness, in another patience. But
in the holiest of men, there are only two or three qualities of
ideal beauty — along with much that is stained and blemished,
mingled with these qualities.

In Christ, however, all that
is excellent is found, with no flaw!

"You are absolutely
beautiful, my Beloved; there is no flaw in You!" Song of
Songs 4:7